Jacob’s Children

October 3, 2020

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah – Genesis 29

31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD has looked on my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. 33 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said, Because the LORD has heard I was hated, he has therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. 34 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined to me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. 35 And she conceived again, and bore a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

Dan and Naphtali – Genesis 30

1 And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. 2 And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb? 3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in to her; and she shall bear on my knees, that I may also have children by her. 4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in to her. 5 And Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said, God has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan. 7 And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bore Jacob a second son. 8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

Gad and Asher – Genesis 30

9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. 10 And Zilpah Leah’s maid bore Jacob a son. 11 And Leah said, A troop comes: and she called his name Gad. 12 And Zilpah Leah’s maid bore Jacob a second son. 13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray you, of your son’s mandrakes. 15 And she said to her, Is it a small matter that you have taken my husband? and would you take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with you to night for your son’s mandrakes. 16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, You must come in to me; for surely I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.

Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah – Genesis 30

17 And God listened to Leah, and she conceived, and bore Jacob the fifth son. 18 And Leah said, God has given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar. 19 And Leah conceived again, and bore Jacob the sixth son. 20 And Leah said, God has endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun. 21 And afterwards she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah.

The Birth of Joseph – Genesis 30

22 And God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her, and opened her womb. 23 And she conceived, and bore a son; and said, God has taken away my reproach: 24 And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

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Bible Verse–Proverbs 16:6

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Reflection on the Story of Wolves and the Deer

Zhixin Maybe you have ever heard a story like this: In the Kaibab Forest, there was a herd of deer, and also a pack of fierce wolves which always sought opportunities to kill the deer. The locals were full of pity for the deer, so they often took guns for ...

Bible Verse–Psalm 147:5

Psalm 147:5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

Bible Verse–Romans 2:2

And we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.

John 10:28

And I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Bible Verse–Revelation 16:18

And there were voices, and thunders, and lightning; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were on the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

Bible Verse–Matthew 19:26

But Jesus beheld them, and said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.